Study of the frequency of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Omidieh district, Khouzestan province, south west of Iran (2008 -2010)

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic disease in Iran that is caused by Leishmania parasite and transmits to human by Phelebotumus sand flies. The lysis of the skin cells occurs by the parasite with the presentation of a dry sore in the rural areas and a wet sore in the urban areas. In this study, the frequency and epidemiologic parameters of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis patients were studied in the Omidieh district. Methods and Materials: in this retrospective study 112 cases with CL were described. These cases were recorded in the Omidieh Health Centre during the years 2008 to 2010. Finally, the statistical indices were calculated using SPSS software. The analysis of the obtained data indicated that about 61% of CL patients were male and 39% female. The age range of patients was between 5 months and 85 years, with a mean of 20±18 year. The age group with a range of 0 to 9 years was the modal group with 35.4% of all the patients. The frequencies of scores according to the parts of bodies were: hands and arms 37.3%, feet and legs 36.6%, head and face 19.7% and the rest of body parts had 6.3% respectively. The Incidence rate per 100 thousand populations, during the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 were 56.84, 55.68 and 18.56 respectively. As the results showed after the age of 9 the prevalence of the disease decreased which may be due to the improvement of the immune system against the disease over the years. It is assumed that this area was an endemic focus of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, however, more studies are needed to clear all the aspects of this disease regarding Omidieh ecosystem.